What Your Loved Ones Need to Know About AFib!

Pharmacist Explains the Importance of Medication Adherence with Irregular Heartbeats and the Impact it has on Rising Healthcare Costs

According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women.

Heart disease can come in many forms – and if you suffer from atrial fibrillation (AFib), an irregular heartbeat, you should know it can lead to complications such as blood clots, stroke and heart failure. More than 2.7 million Americans have AFib, and people with the condition are five times more likely to have a stroke than people without it.

Good heart health starts with regular doctor visits and taking medications as prescribed by your doctor. Unfortunately, many people—including AFib patients—can have trouble sticking to the treatment plan discussed with their healthcare provider. This can have a significant impact on their health, and can result in staggering costs. Roughly $290 billion in avoidable costs is spent annually on medication-related problems, including nonadherence, of which $100 billion is spent on hospitalizations alone.

Dr. Moe Jalloh, a spokesperson for the American Pharmacists Association, discusses AFib, medication adherence and how your pharmacist can help you understand medications.